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Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin headed to Alaska on Friday for a high-stakes summit that will put the U.S. president’s commitment to ending the conflict in Ukraine to the test.
Both leaders expressed optimism about the potential outcomes of the meeting. While Trump warned that he could consider the talks a failure within minutes if Putin doesn’t make concessions, the Kremlin indicated that the negotiations could last at least six or seven hours.
This gathering marks Putin’s first visit to Western territory since the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, which has resulted in a brutal conflict claiming tens of thousands of lives. Recent days have seen Russian forces making notable gains on the battlefield, possibly strengthening Putin’s position in any ceasefire negotiations.
En route to Anchorage aboard Air Force One, Trump stayed positive, commenting, “There’s a respectful sentiment on both sides, and I think something good will come out of it.” Every word and gesture will be scrutinized by European leaders and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was not invited and has publicly rejected pressure from Trump to surrender territory to Russia.
Zelensky posted on social media, “It’s time to end the war, and Russia must take the necessary steps. We are relying on America.” Trump has described the summit as a “feel-out meeting” to gauge Putin’s stance. He last met Putin in 2019 and clarified that he’s not traveling to Alaska to negotiate but to bring the Russian and Ukrainian leaders to the table.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Moscow wouldn’t predict the outcome of the talks, emphasizing that Russia’s position remains straightforward and unambiguous. He also appeared dressed in a shirt with “USSR” written in Cyrillic.
Trump has pledged to consult with European allies and Zelensky before any final deal, which he envisions as a three-way meeting to decide on territorial divisions. Previously, Trump boasted of a strong relationship with Putin and blamed President Joe Biden for the Ukraine war. He even claimed he could broker peace within 24 hours upon returning to the White House.
Despite repeated efforts to connect with Putin—such as a notable meeting on February 28 during which Trump publicly criticized Zelensky—the Russian leader has shown no signs of compromise. Trump acknowledged his frustration with Putin and warned of serious consequences if he refuses a ceasefire but also stated he intends to meet with Putin in Alaska.
The talks are scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. local time at Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska’s largest military installation, once a Cold War outpost monitoring the former Soviet Union. Interestingly, the U.S. purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867—a deal Russia now uses to justify land exchanges.
According to the Kremlin, Putin and Trump are expected to meet alone with interpreters—before engaging in a working lunch with advisors—though neither is expected to leave the base for Anchorage, where protests in support of Ukraine are ongoing.
This summit signifies a stark departure from the stance of Western European leaders and President Biden, who have insisted that Ukraine be involved in any discussions about its future. Putin faces an arrest warrant from the International Criminal Court, limiting his travel options. However, the U.S., not a party to the Hague tribunal, has eased some sanctions on Russian officials to facilitate their travel and banking in Alaska.
Zelensky has described the Alaska meeting as “a personal victory” for Putin, whose forces recently increased their offensive in eastern Ukraine. Zelensky added, “Putin is coming out of isolation and has somewhat postponed sanctions that Trump threatened to impose if there was no progress.”
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